After we negotiate the somewhat tricky exit out of the Hugab river, we soldier on towards the abandoned Brandberg Mine.
We regroup, as agreed, every now and again as we go along and soon we are on terra firma, a wide gravel highway lying ahead of us. The plan is to take an obscure exit along the route and take a shortcut, hugging Brandberg mountain, towards White Lady Camp. Rodger and I are in front, and we both doubt the turn-off as indicated by the GPS once we reach it. I say to Rodger that I am going to go check it out and I head off into the veld, no tracks visible. Like the scene from Cool Hand Luke, or more famously for my time, the much acclaimed “Civil War” song by Guns’ n Roses, the following phrase jumps to mind: “What we’ve got here, is failure to communicate.”
I ride on into the veld, find the track not far off, and assume Rodger understood that I will be continuing on along the route if I find it. If I don’t find it, I will go back to the main road. Big mistake.
Well, I had the ride of my life. Riding for what felt like, and was, hours, skirting Brandberg, was magic. Never for one minute did I think that people might be concerned about me, or that I could be inconveniencing anyone whatsoever. I eventually met up with Rodger and all was good. Until the rest of the group started arriving. Turns out it was not the case.
@Johannesf, being one of the better riders in the group, was asked by Hardy that morning to take responsibility for the group from a rider perspective. And he did so with much aplomb. Alan and Sharon were doing the same as the recovery-vehicle crew. I later learnt that the entire group was very worried about me. Johannes, Ellio, Patty, Alan, Sharon. Once
@Johannesf caught up with us he was visibly upset. I didn’t understand his reaction and shrugged it off. Rodger and I moved on.
Later that day, after the ride,
@Johannesf again made clear his dissatisfaction, which again I couldn’t fathom. And herein lies the benefit of reflection. I have been thinking about this altercation and situation for some time and realised how inconsiderate I was in my actions. That the frustration shown that day came from a place of worry and concern.
@Striggs also packaged it nicely for me and helped me understand it from a different perspective. (Thanks, Yoda).
@Johannesf, thanks for your concern, and thanks for the lessons learnt! In that desolate place you are taking risks. And riding alone escalates those risks significantly. I now fully understand where the anxiety and frustration came from. Dankie, en jammer,
@Johannesf !
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Brandberg looming...
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